2018 NFL mock draft: Baker Mayfield heads to Jets

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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide holds the trophy while celebrating with his team after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in overtime to win the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama won 26-23. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Alabama. Minkah Fitzpatrick. 7. player. 48. . Defensive Back

After the 2016 NFL season, it looked like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would finally get over the hump and make it to the playoffs in 2017. Jameis Winston has proven to be every bit as worthy of being selected first overall back in 2015, and the defense was solid in 2016. However, the 2017 campaign was a disappointing one, and it nearly cost head coach Dirk Koetter his job.

The organization decided to retain Koetter, and it is now his job to turn this thing around. The fact is this team has enough talent on both sides of the ball to be a playoff contender, but the NFC South is such a tough division. In fact, three of the four teams in the division made it to the playoffs this past season, so the Buccaneers better be ready to make a serious jump in 2018.

With Winston in charge of the offense, they should be able to move the ball through the air, but the defense needs to be able to stop it moving forward. Adding depth to their secondary is a priority this offseason, though they could pick up a big addition in the first round of the draft in April. Minkah Fitzpatrick from Alabama is a big reason why the Crimson Tide have won two of the last three national championships, and he would bring a winning attitude to a secondary that was beaten far too often last season.

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